Vapers May Expose the Same Level of Toxic Compounds as That of Non-smokers

Vapers May Expose the Same Level of Toxic Compounds as That of Non-smokers

Author: udPublish Date: Jul 30, 2018Page Views: 222

Vapers May Expose the Same Level of Toxic Compounds as That of Non-smokers

There is a good news for vapers. According to a recent study by e-cigarette researchers in the United Kingdom and the United States, the risk of exposure to toxic compounds by e-cigarettes is the same as that of non-smokers, reflecting the fact that vapers are as healthy as non-smokers. Smokers who switch to e-cigarettes can also be protected from the toxic effects of thousands of toxic substances in the tobacco smoking.

Carcinogens and toxicants found by researchers are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including acrolein, acrylamide, acrylonitrile, butadiene, and mixtures of ethylene oxide, acrylonitrile, and vinyl chloride. These volatile organic compounds are flooded in the air, our food and beverages, which means people contact with them every day. According to a study published by a research team led by K. Udeni Alwis in 2012, the presence of these compounds was also measured in non-smokers.

In this study, the researchers measured the metabolites produced during the body's decomposition of VOC by testing the testers’ urine. Scientists from University College London, King's College London, Roswell Parker Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that "long-term having nicotine replacement therapy and using electronic cigarette contribute to significantly lower levels of carcinogens and toxicants associated with tobacco smoking." Their research, led by Lion Shahab, was published last month in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

The comparison exposure to toxic compounds between non-smokers and vapers

Volatile Organic Compounds

Vapers' Ratio

Non-smokers' Ratio

Acrolein

33%

26%

Acrylamide

43%

42%

Acrylonitrile

2.9%

2.5%

Butadiene

11%

18%

Ethylene oxide, acrylonitrile and vinyl chloride mixture

44%

35%

The table shows that the amount of VOC exposure of e-cigarettes users is similar to that of non-smokers. For example, in Shaha's study, the risk of exposure to acrylamide by e-cigarettes users was 43% of smokers, while in the Alwis study, the risk probability of non-smokers compared to smokers was 42%.

Researchers at the Shaha Research Report, especially Dr. Alwis at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, should link the results of the two studies. The fact that vapers’ risk of exposure to volatile compounds is similar to that of non-smokers should be known by public.